Protective interface device with complementary case, stand and satchel

Abstract

The invention relates to a sanitary interface device that provides safety and mitigates risk associated with the spread of disease and illness (e.g., viruses) resulting from human contact with potentially contaminated objects such as a handle. The interface device includes a rigid, U-shaped body having a curved portion and a pair of legs projecting therefrom. The curved portion interfaces with the potentially contaminated handle, while the pair of legs shield a user's hands from the handle. The interface device can be portable and reusable, while being adapted for use as part of a kit which could also include accessories, such as a case, stand and/or satchel.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A method of sanitizing or otherwise treating potentially contaminated handle grips, said method comprising the steps of:
 providing a case adapted to store handle grips, said case having an interior chamber sized and shaped so as to removably receive at least one potentially contaminated handle grip, said interior chamber having at least one point of access thereto; 
 at a first location, placing a potentially contaminated handle grip in said interior chamber of said case via said at least one point of access to thereby enclose said potentially contaminated handle grip within said interior chamber of said case; 
 transporting said potentially contaminated handle grip from said first location to a second location while said potentially contaminated handle grip is enclosed within said case; 
 at said second location, providing a stand configured to removably receive said case, said stand including a source of ultraviolet radiation configured to sanitize or otherwise treat said potentially contaminated handle grip and said interior chamber of said case once said case has been received on said stand; 
 placing said case on said stand such that said source of ultraviolet radiation extends into said interior chamber of said case via said at least one point of access thereto, whereby said interior chamber of said case and said potentially contaminated handle grip are exposable to ultraviolet radiation emittable from said source of ultraviolet radiation; 
 obstructing said at least one point of access such that said source of ultraviolet radiation and said handle grip are entirely enclosed within said interior chamber of said case; and 
 actuating said source of ultraviolet radiation for a length of time sufficient to sanitize or otherwise treat said potentially contaminated handle grip and said interior chamber of said case while said potentially contaminated handle grip is enclosed within said interior chamber of said case. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein said source of ultraviolet radiation simultaneously sanitizes said potentially contaminated handle grip and said interior chamber of said case. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , wherein said potentially contaminated handle grip is placed in said interior chamber of said case via a first point of access to said interior chamber. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 3 , wherein said case is placed on said stand such that said source of ultraviolet radiation extends through said first point of access. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 3 , wherein said case is placed on said stand such that said source of ultraviolet radiation extends through a second point of access to said interior chamber of said case. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1 , wherein said case is a carrying case for potentially contaminated handle grips. 
     
     
       7. The method  claim 6 , wherein said carrying case is sized and shaped so as to be manually transportable independently of said stand. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 7 , wherein said carrying case is manually transported from said first location to said second location. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 1 , wherein said potentially contaminated handle grip has a trough-shaped body with inner and outer surfaces. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 9 , wherein said inner and outer surfaces of said body of said potentially contaminated handle grip are defined by a pair of substantially straight and substantially parallel legs extending from opposite sides of a central body section bridging between the legs of said pair of legs. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 10 , wherein said source of ultraviolet radiation extends between said legs of said pair of legs of said potentially contaminated handle grip. 
     
     
       12. A device for sanitizing or otherwise treating potentially contaminated handle grips, said device comprising:
 a stand having a docking station provided with a lower end, which is closed, and an upper end, which is open and which is located at a first elevation above said lower end of said docking station; 
 an elongated case removably received in said docking station, said case having an interior chamber with an open end positioned adjacent said lower end of said docking station when said case is positioned therein and an opposed end positioned at a second elevation above said lower end of said docking station, said second elevation being higher than said first elevation; and 
 a source of ultraviolet radiation extending from said lower end of said docking station to and through said upper end thereof such that said source of ultraviolet radiation is positioned within said interior chamber of said case when said case is positioned in said docking station, said source of ultraviolet radiation being configured to generate ultraviolet radiation sufficient to sanitize or otherwise treat at least one potentially contaminated handle grip enclosed within said case. 
 
     
     
       13. The device of  claim 12 , wherein said opposed end of said case is closed when said case is positioned in said docking station to thereby entirely enclose said source of ultraviolet radiation within said interior chamber of said case. 
     
     
       14. The device of  claim 13 , wherein said upper end of said docking station includes a platform arranged at said first elevation, said platform including a well extending from said lower end of said docking station to said upper end of said docking station, said well being configured to removably receive said case when said case is positioned in said docking station. 
     
     
       15. The device of  claim 14 , wherein said source of ultraviolet radiation is connectable to a power source configured to power on said source of ultraviolet radiation. 
     
     
       16. The device of  claim 15 , wherein said platform includes sensing means for sensing the presence of said case in said docking station and for controlling said power source such that said power source powers on said source of ultraviolet radiation only when said case is positioned in said docking station. 
     
     
       17. The device of  claim 16 , wherein said sensing means includes a proximity safety switch located on said platform adjacent said well. 
     
     
       18. The device of  claim 15 , wherein said power source includes controlling means for controlling the amount of time that said power source is connected to said source of ultraviolet radiation. 
     
     
       19. The device of  claim 18 , wherein said controlling means includes a timer. 
     
     
       20. The device of  claim 19 , wherein said timer is configured to monitor, track and/or regulate the performance of said source of ultraviolet radiation. 
     
     
       21. The device of  claim 12 , wherein said case is a carrying case for potentially contaminated handle grips. 
     
     
       22. The device of  claim 21 , wherein said carrying case is sized and shaped so as to be manually transportable independently of said stand. 
     
     
       23. A kit, comprising at least one handle grip having a trough-shaped body with inner and outer surfaces; at least one case configured to removably receive said at least one handle grip such that said at least one handle grip can be enclosed within said at least one case when said at least one handle grip is not in use, said at least one case having a pair of opposed ends, an interior chamber located between said opposed ends and configured such that said at least one handle grip can be enclosed therein, and at least one lid configured to be movable between a closed position in which said at least one lid obstructs at least one of said opposed ends of said at least one case, thereby enclosing said at least one handle grip in said interior chamber of said at least one case, and an open position in which said at least one lid does not obstruct said at least one of said opposed ends of said at least one case, thereby allowing said at least one handle grip to be inserted into and removed from said interior chamber of said at least one case; and at least one stand having a source of ultraviolet radiation, said at least one stand being configured to receive an unobstructed one of said opposed ends of said at least one case and to support said at least one case such that said source of ultraviolet radiation is positionable within said interior chamber of said at least one case. 
     
     
       24. The kit of  claim 23 , wherein said at least one case includes a carrying case for said at least one handle grip. 
     
     
       25. The kit of  claim 24 , wherein said carrying case is sized and shaped so as to be manually transportable independently of said stand. 
     
     
       26. The kit of  claim 23 , wherein said inner and outer surfaces of said body of said at least one handle grip are defined by a pair of substantially straight and substantially parallel legs extending from opposite sides of a central body section bridging between the legs of said pair of legs. 
     
     
       27. The kit of  claim 26 , wherein said source of ultraviolet radiation is configured such that it is positionable between said legs of said pair of legs when said at least one handle grip is received in said at least one case and said at least one case is received in said at least one stand. 
     
     
       28. The kit of  claim 27 , wherein said at least one handle grip has a generally U-shaped cross-sectional configuration.